Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a thorough overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral process, urging the dismissal of Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other officials across all levels.
He made the call at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in the United States.
Describing the 2023 general election as a “travesty,” former President Obasanjo emphasized the urgent need to reform the electoral system to restore credibility and public trust.
He also called for shorter tenures for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a more thorough vetting process to prevent the appointment of partisan individuals.
He stated: “As a matter of urgency, we must ensure that the INEC Chairperson and their staff undergo a thorough vetting process. The vetting should identify impartial, non-partisan individuals with impeccable reputations.”
“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of credible INEC leadership at all levels—federal, state, local government, and municipal, including cities, towns, and villages—coupled with short tenures to minimize political interference and corruption. This will help restore public trust in the electoral system.”
“The INEC Chairperson must not only be above reproach but also transparently independent and incorruptible.”
Obasanjo also criticized the commission’s failure to effectively deploy critical technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2023 presidential election, despite earlier assurances from INEC Chairman Yakubu.
He argued that this oversight contributed to widespread voting irregularities.
“The BVAS and IReV were hailed as technological innovations with the potential to improve the accuracy and transparency of election results, curb electoral fraud, and increase public confidence in the electoral process,” he said. “These technologies were promoted by the INEC Chairman himself. In the end, they didn’t fail; INEC deliberately chose not to use them, which led to widespread irregularities. It was like inviting the fox into the henhouse.”
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
